One day, she'll understand.

My dad wore his lucky shirt - the same one he's worn to and during every single game this year.  My mom had on her earrings - the ones she's had since college we think. 

My mom and I folded clothes and baked - what we do when we can't sit still and watch an Auburn game.

We debated about whether to put Turner to bed, and decided to proceed as usual - didn't want to jinx things.

We paced, and waited, and hoped.

And with 2 seconds left on the clock, we ran down the hall and woke Turner up.  At 11:30pm.  She was sitting in my lap when we watched the ball sail through the uprights and I raised my fist in the air in victory.

She begged to go back to sleep, to not have to change out of her comfy pajamas.  We just told told her that one day when she is older, we'll explain all this and it would all make sense.  And then we loaded up and headed to Toomer's...for the craziest football after-party I've ever experienced.  We arrived around midnight and got home around 1:15am. 

I took some fun photos, and shot some video for those people who couldn't experience this in person.  It was completely surreal!  The looks on the faces of people, particularly those of my parents and people of the generations that have come and gone since 1957, were filled with emotion and wonder...the child-like feeling of excitement when you get a present you didn't think you'd receive.


I am so glad we were able to be a part of it.  To experience it with my own parents who instilled a love for Auburn in my heart, and with my daughter who we hope grows to love Auburn like her parents and grandparents do. 

Awesome.  Just unbelievably awesome.

Video tidbits: the video starts with our ride into town and the massive traffic flowing into Auburn at midnight.  (Remember, we've been out of school for two days due to an ice storm...that didn't seem to concern anyone.)  Then there are several snippets first down Magnolia Avenue, but when that became so crowded it was frightening, we made the block and came in front of Samford Hall down College Street.  The last few videos were shot directly under the big tree.  For those of you who were in Glendale, or those who couldn't be in either place - hopefully you'll enjoy seeing what this was like!

For any of you who were here for Toomer's 2000 - this was infinitely more crowded.

This is the view looking down toward Samford Hall from the tree at Toomer's corner.  There was so much toilet paper it was hard to tell in which direction you were facing at times.

I've been a bit reflective as this season ended, perhaps because one of the most devout Auburn men I have ever known went to be with the Lord this past year and didn't get to see magic of this season in person.  I know many would have a similar feeling - we all know devout Auburn men and women who would have been so proud to have stood at the intersection of Magnolia and College last night.

Mr. Benny Strength and his wife Mrs. Pat were my surrogate grandparents as I was growing up, and I have very few memories of them that don't include something Auburn in my mind's eye - the gamedays I spent as a middle-schooler at their tailgate on the concourse (when you could still drive down Thach mind you), the tiger picture they brought to me before I left home as a freshman to come to Auburn, the fact that most conversations with them included something Auburn related.  After the SEC Championship game, Mr. Benny was the first person who came to my mind.  It made me a little sad that he wasn't here to witness the Auburn Tigers having a shot at a national title. (That's still weird to even type...)

Then, last night I got a little tickled when it suddenly hit me...forget StubHub, ticket brokers, and Ebay - Mr. Benny had the BEST seat in the house.  I can't help but smile at the thought of Mr. Benny, Dean Foy, Jim Fyffe, and Coach Shug Jordan all sitting in their heavenly recliners watching the spectacle.  Wonder what the trees look like in heaven tonight....

War Eagle y'all.  We're not going to get over this one for a while.